Inwardly folding rollator with an upwardly pivotable seat

ABSTRACT

A rollator with a tubular frame assembly includes a pair of U-shaped side frames connected by a front brace. Each side frame has a cross bar that extends between front legs and back legs of the frame. The side frames are pivotably attached to the front brace so that the side frames can fold inwardly. The rollator has a molded rigid seat that is mounted on pivot brackets to allow it to pivot upwardly out of the way of the user. The pivot brackets have an offset axis of rotation so that the seat is arranged in a curved area of the front brace when pivoted upwardly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/977,122 filed Oct. 12, 2001, for INWARDLY FOLDING AMBULATORY DEVICE WITH AN UPWARDLY PIVOTABLE SEAT, the entire disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates generally to wheeled ambulatory supports, and more particularly to a rollator having a molded rigid seat to allow the user to rest in a stationary position but which can be pivoted upward out of the way of the user. Further, the side frame members can be folded inwardly in order to conserve storage space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain health conditions hinder vertical balance, and movement in the upright position or other mechanics of walking. The health care industry has developed aids for those who suffer from such conditions, including crutches, walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs. Rollators are wheeled supports which aid individuals who have function in their lower limbs, but lack the muscular control, strength or balance to enable them to walk unassisted. It is advantageous for such supports to include two pairs of wheels in order to avoid the need to lift the device, and to facilitate its use as an ambulatory aid. Further, these devices may include a seat so that a user may use the device to sit and rest.

Traditional walkers or rollators have a frame that forms a U shaped enclosure about the user. The enclosure is open to the back and the user walks toward the closed front portion of the frame while using the lateral side armrests for support. Walkers typically do not include a seat, although rollators may include a seat. If a rollator includes a seat, the user turns to face the open side and sits facing the opposite direction from the orientation when the support is in active ambulatory use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The rollator of the present invention has a frame comprised of opposing side frames linked by a front brace. The side frames each include tubular front and back leg members, each carried on a wheel, and joined at the top by an integral horizontal lateral support. Each lateral support generally includes an armrest and brake means. For each side frame, a cross bar extends between the front and back legs to support the construct, and to provide a mounting bar for the seat which is pivotably mounted to the front legs on a pair of mounting brackets which offset the axis of rotation forward of the front legs. This arrangement allows the seat to be flipped upward to open the space in the walker and such that the seat is out of the way of the user. The rear of the seat has integrally molded bracket members that are curved to minimize interference with the user and with the inwardly folding brake handles.

The frame also includes a front brace that has a bushing member on either side to rotatably hold the front legs of each of the side frame members. The legs include spring loaded locking members that cooperative with a locking recess in an annular catch plate to secure the side frames in the open position. The locking members can be released by pressing a lock handle and unlock the detent from the catch plate and to allow the side frames to be folded inward when the seat is in the upright position. The length of the front and back legs can be adjusted through a connection to telescoping length adjusting sleeves which are sure by snap buttons. This feature allows a simultaneous adjustment of the height of the seat, and of the armrests. The seat is preferably a contoured rigid, molded seat that includes a means to attach it to a pivot bracket on each side having a forward offset pivot axis. The brackets are carried on each of the front legs. The rear of the seat includes on each side a curved integral molded support bracket with a catching groove that hugs the cross bar to support the rear of the seat. The references to the location of the components, such as front and back, are in reference to the device when the user is facing the front brace in an upright walking position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the rollator in an open position in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the rollator shown in FIG. 1 with the seat in the upright position; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the rollator shown in FIG. 1 with the seat in the upright position; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the rollator shown in FIG. 1 with the rollator folded inwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The wheeled ambulatory support, or rollator of the present invention has a foldable frame 10 having a pair of generally U-shaped vertical side frames 12, 13 which are typically of a hollow tubular steel construction. The side frames 12, 13 each include a front leg 14, 15 and a back leg 16, 17. These front and back legs are each supported at the bottom by a wheel and at the top have an integral transverse horizontal support member 18, 19. These supports are positioned to carry armrests 20 upon which the user leans during ambulation. The supports 18, 19 also include a brake handle 21 which is used to activate a braking mechanism, typically connected by a cable to a brake shoe 24 which acts on the rear wheels 22. The rollator may also include an additional parking brake (not shown).

The front legs 14, 15 are each supported by offset castor forks 26 having a sleeve 30 that receives the bottom of the front leg and further having a front wheel 32. The back legs simply have an axle 34 of a wheel 35 that engages a bore in the rear leg to support the rear leg. A telescoping sleeve member 40 having spaced openings 41 receives a top portion 49 of the rear leg in a sliding cooperation and a spring biased pop detent or snap button snaps into place in the openings 41 to adjust the height of the rear leg. There is a corresponding mechanism for the front leg.

The side frames 12, 13 also each include a cross bar 42, 43 which have a bracket at either end 44, 45 and 46, 47 to secure the cross bar generally perpendicular to the front legs and the rear legs respectively. The cross bars form a support for the rearward-facing portion of the seat member 50. The seat member is a rigid molded plastic seat which may be contoured with a rear depression and forward pommel (i.e. relative to the seat) for comfort and that has integral downward curving rear brackets 52 that include u-shaped recesses 54 that form a frictional fit on the cross bar. The recesses are popped off of the cross bars to allow the seat to be folded upward about the front pivot brackets 56 that are mounted on either side of the front legs. The pivot brackets extend forward of the front legs so as to offset the axis of rotation forward of the front legs, e.g., by the depth of the seat. This puts the seat out of the way of the user when it is in the upright position. Additional support is provided by support flanges 57 that extend inwardly from the side frames and engages and support the bottom of the seat. The brackets 52 are curved to avoid interference with the brake handles 21 during folding.

The frame also includes a front brace 60 which comprises a curved tubular member having transverse bushings on either side 62, 63. The curve allows the seat to nest in front of the front brace 60 when the seat is upright. The front legs 14, 15 extend through and can rotate in the bushings to permit the side frames to be collapsed inward. Each side frame also includes a locking mechanism 70 that comprises an annular catch plate 72 having a lock hole that is engaged by a spring biased detente. A handle 75 is used to disengage the lock means 74. A flexible back support 80 which can be made from a suitable fabric strip which is riveted to itself also extends between the side frames.

While in accordance with the patent statutes the best mode and preferred embodiment have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached claims. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. An ambulatory device, comprising: (a) two side frames, each side frame having a front leg and a back leg and a cross bar between the front leg and the back leg; (b) a seat pivotably mounted to the side frames; and (c) at least two support brackets operatively coupled to the seat, one of which is disposed on either side of the seat; and wherein each support bracket comprises one or more notches to engage at least one of the side frames so that the seat is supported on the side frames when the seat is placed in a lowered position.
 16. The ambulatory device of claim 15, wherein the seat comprises a substantially flat sitting surface and an undersurface comprising a plurality of walled recesses.
 17. The ambulatory device of claim 15, wherein each of the support brackets comprises an undersurface comprising a plurality of walled recesses.
 18. An ambulatory device, comprising: (a) two side frames, each side frame having a front leg and a back leg and a cross bar between the front leg and the back leg; (b) a seat pivotably mounted to the side frames; (c) at least two support brackets operatively coupled to the seat, one of which is disposed on either side of the seat and extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom; wherein each support bracket comprises an undersurface comprising a plurality of walled recesses.
 19. The ambulatory device of claim 18, wherein the seat comprises a substantially flat sitting surface and an undersurface comprising a plurality of walled recesses.
 20. An ambulatory device comprising: (a) two side frames, each side frame having a front leg and back leg; (b) a brace connecting the front leg of each of the frames; (c) a seat having first and second sections, the second section pivotably coupled to the frames, the seat capable of being disposed in: a first position in a substantially horizontal orientation; and a second position in a substantially vertical orientation; and (d) at least two support brackets integral with the seat, one support bracket being disposed downwardly on either side of the seat with respect to the first position to secure the seat to the frames when the seat is in the first position; wherein the support brackets provide support for the ambulatory device when the seat is in the first position such that when lateral force is applied to the side frames, the lateral force is distributed along the support brackets and across the seat.
 21. The ambulatory device of claim 20, further comprising a locking mechanism located on each of the side frames, the locking mechanism maintaining the side frames spaced apart and releasable to allow the side frames to pivot inwardly.
 22. The ambulatory device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the side frames can pivot approximately 180 degrees when the locking mechanism is released.
 23. The ambulatory device of claim 20, further comprising: (a) a set of brakes positioned to engage wheels on the back legs when a brake force is applied; and (b) at least one hand brake actuator positioned on at least one of the side frames, wherein the hand brake actuator is used to effectuate the brake force.
 24. The ambulatory device according to claim 20, further comprising a back rest connecting the side frames.
 25. The ambulatory device according to claim 20, wherein the seat includes a handle.
 26. The ambulatory device according to claim 20, wherein the seat in the second position is at least partially in front of the front legs.
 27. An ambulatory device comprising: (a) two side frames, each side frame including a front and back leg; (b) a brace connecting the front leg of each of the frames; and (c) a seat having front and rear sections, the front section pivotably mounted to the frames, wherein the seat can be pivoted into at least two positions: a first position having a substantially horizontal orientation; and a second position having a substantially vertical orientation; wherein the seat further comprises a substantially flat sitting surface and an under-surface comprising a plurality of walled recesses.
 28. The ambulatory device of claim 27, further comprising two support brackets disposed to secure the seat to the frames when the seat is in the first position; wherein the support brackets provide support for the ambulatory device when the seat is in the first position such that when lateral force is applied to the side frames, the lateral force is distributed along the support brackets and across the seat.
 29. An ambulatory device, comprising: (a) a first side frame and a second side frame, each side frame having a front leg and a back leg; and (b) a seat pivotally connected to the first side frame front leg and the second side frame front leg, the seat capable of being disposed in a first position oriented substantially horizontally and a second position oriented substantially vertically, and the seat including an undersurface having at least first and second pluralities of intersecting walls that, while the seat is in the first position, extend downward from the seat undersurface defining a plurality of downward openings.
 30. The ambulatory device according to claim 29, wherein the walls in the first and second pluralities of walls are formed integrally with the seat undersurface.
 31. The ambulatory device according to claim 29, wherein the walls in the first plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other and the walls in the second plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other.
 32. The ambulatory device according to claim 29, wherein the walls in the first plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other and the walls in the second plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other, and the first and second pluralities of walls are substantially perpendicular to each other.
 33. The ambulatory device according to claim 29, wherein the walls in the first plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other and the walls in the second plurality of walls are substantially parallel to each other, and the first and second pluralities of walls are substantially perpendicular to each other so that some of the downward openings are substantially rectangular when viewed from below.
 34. An ambulatory device, comprising: (a) a first side frame and a second side frame, each side frame having a front leg, a back leg, and a cross bar between the front leg and the back leg; (b) a seat pivotally connected to the first side frame front leg and the second side frame front leg, the seat capable of being disposed in a first position oriented substantially horizontally and a second position oriented substantially vertically; (c) at least two downwardly curving support brackets, each downwardly curving support bracket extending outwardly from the seat to engage a respective one of the cross bars of one of the side frames; and (d) at least a first continuous wall extending from one support bracket, under the seat, and to another support bracket, and that, while the seat is in the first position, extends downward from a seat undersurface.
 35. The ambulatory device according to claim 34, further comprising at least a second continuous wall extending from one support bracket, under the seat, and to another support bracket substantially parallel to the first continuous wall, and that, while the seat is in the first position, extends downward from a seat undersurface and cooperates with the first continuous wall to form at least one downward opening.
 36. The ambulatory device according to claim 34, further comprising at least second and third continuous walls extending from one support bracket, under the seat, and to another support bracket substantially parallel to the first continuous wall, and that, while the seat is in the first position, extend downward from a seat undersurface and cooperate with the first continuous wall to form at least two downward openings. 